Fire extinguisher



July 4, 1933. c 5 w n- 7 1,915,351

FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Filed May 9, 1932 VFY I gwoento a 7 (Q4005 5 flfflr/v/i/y minimum of space.

Patented July 4, 1933 'CLAUDE S. VJHITDIAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO FIRE nx'rrneoisnnn Application filed May 9, 1932. Serial No. 610,105.

This invention relates to a fire extinguisher of the grenade type and has for its principal object the provision of a simple, efiic-ient, and easily manufactured holder for the grenade which will be actuated in accordance with a previously determined temperature to break the grenade and scatter the contents.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can'be manufactured from wire so that it will be light in weight and so that it will occupy but a A further object resides in the novel placement of the hinged striker which provides a maximum arc of swing for the strikerbefore it strikes the grenade so that the impact of the blow will be greatly increased.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for'simplicity, economy, and efiiciency. These will become-more apparent from the'following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like partsin all views of the drawing and throughout the descrip tion. w In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved fire extinguishing grenade holder.

Fig. 2 is'a side elevation thereof illustrating a grenade therein. i V

Fig. 3 is a similar side elevation illustrating the device in the act of breaking the grenade.

The invention is designed for supporting any suitable fire extinguishing grenade, preferably of the pear-shaped type as indicated on the drawing at 10.

The entire supporting frame is formed from a single piece of relatively stiff wire which is bent intermediate its extremities to form a circular loop 11 for receiving the grenade 10. From the loop 11 the wire is extended rearwardly to form a horizontal bracket 12 and thence downwardly to form the wall portion of the device as shown at 13. The extremities are then extended horizontally beneath and parallel to the loop 11.

The horizontal portions are bowed outwardly as shown at 14, thence inwardly to form a spring shaft 15. One of the extremities is then turned rearwardly to form a fixed link support 16.

A' second piece of wire is arcuately bentto form a U-shaped striker arm 17, the extremities of which are looped about the spring shaft 15, as shown at 12, to form a hinge joint. A striker member 19 is secured in a loop at the middle portion of the striker arm 17. This striker member may be of any desired construction. It has been found that a relatively large, round headed rivet, upset in awasher 20 forms an ideal striker.

The striker is actuated by means of a spring member formed in two coils 21 on the shaft 15. The spring member engages the link support 16 intermediate the coils 21 and engages the striker arm 17 at its extremities, as shown at 22. The striker arm 17 is supported in its normal position by means of a trigger member-'23 also formed of wire and looped through an eyelet 24 on the supporting frame.

In setting the device, the striker arm is swung under and rearwardly. The trigger member 23 is then swung forwardly'beneath thestriker arm-and is secured to the link support 16 by means of a fusible link 25, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The fusible link is of any ofthe usual'designs intended to release when the surrounding temperature reaches a predetermined degree. 7

When the link 25 releases, the trigger member23 will be snapped downwardly and rearwardly so as to release the striker arm 17. The latter will then swing as indicated in Fig. 3, striking the grenade 10 with the striker 19.

It is desired to call attention to thefact that the striker arm 17 swings through an arc of approximately 270 before it strikes the grenade. This allows it to attain tremendous striking force so that the grenade and its contents will be widely scattered. This wide arc is attained by projecting the striker hinge point forwardly beneath the grenade which is unusual in a construction of this nature. This construction also serves to reduce the vertical length of the entire device so that it can be placed in close quarters where the ordinary holder could not be used.

The entire device is supported from a brace wire 26 which is bent intermediate its extremities to form a hanger loop 27 and which is extended outwardly to each side of the vertical portion 13 of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1- to prevent side sway of the complete device. The brace wire 26 may be attached to the frame in any desired manner. In practice it has been found satisfactory to weld the b ace wire to the bracket. It has also been found advantageous to weld the contacting portions of the frame wire together. This provides a Very rigid construction, the lightness of which reduces transportation charges.

lVhilc a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:-

l. A holder and breaker for fire extinguishing grenades comprising: a circular wire loop for supporting said grenade, the extremities of the wire forming said loop being brought together in parallel relation and extended rearwardly to form a bracket member thence downwardly to form a wall portion; thence outwardly in a plane parallel with the plane of said loop, the latter portions of said wire being separated from each other, thence turned inwardly toward each other to form a spring shaft; a second arcuate wire member hinged at its extremities on said spring shaft; a striker member secured intermediate the extremities of said second wire member; and. spring means for swinging said second wire member so as to cause said striker member to strike said grenade.

9.. A holder and breaker for fire extinguishing grenades comprising: a circular wire loop for supporting said wire grenade, the extremities of the wire forming said 100p being brought together in parallel relation and extended rearwardly to form a bracket member, thence downwardly to form a wall portion, thence outwardly in a plane parallel with the plane of said loop, the latter portions of said wire being turned away from each other, thence turned inwardly toward each other to form a spring shaft; a second, U-shaped wire member hinged at its extremities on said spring shaft; a striker member secured intermediate the extremities of said second wire member; spring means for swinging said second wire member so as to cause striker member to strike said grenade; one extremity of said first wire member being turned rearwardly to form a link support; a third wire member hinged to said second wire member to hold the latter against the action of said spring means and a fusible link con necting said third wire member to said link support.

3. A holder and breaker for fire extinguishing grenades comprising: a circular wire loop for supporting said wire grenade, the extremities of the wire forming said loop being brought together in parallel relation and horizontally extended rearwardly to form a bracket member thence downwardly to form a wall portion; thence horizontally forward, the forwardly extending portions being turned away from each other, thence turned inwardly toward each other to from a spring shaft; a second wire member hinged at its extremities on said spring shaft; .a striker member secured intermediate the extremities of said second wire member so located as to cause striker member to strike said grenade; a link support on said first wire member; a third wire member hinged to said first wire member and arranged to swing under said second wire mem ber to hold the latter against the action of said spring means; a fusible link connecting by said third wire member to said link support; and a fourth wire member secured to the vertical portion of said first wire member and extending oppositely outwardly at each side thereof to form a hanger and to brace said first wire member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CLAUDE S. WHITMAN. 

